Tattoo removal generally works, but the type of tattoo can affect how easy or difficult it is to remove. Tattoo removal as well as laser tattoo removal has been in existence since drawing out tattoos began. If you are thinking about taking out your tattoo partially or completely, it’s not as hard as it might seem.
Laser Tattoo Removal Introduction
Newer tattoos take longer to remove than stick-and-poke tattoos or older ones. The colours also play a role because lighter and less colourful tattoos are more expensive and take longer to remove. The lighter the colours are, the more difficult it is to remove.
Furthermore, because of the risk of side effects, having darker skin, a skin disease like herpes, or an existing skin condition like eczema matters and makes removal more difficult. However, if you have any of these conditions, you will still be able to get rid of your tattoo; the only difference is that you may need more time to figure out which method is best for you.
Tattoo Removal Procedures
There are several methods for permanently removing a tattoo, but the three most common are surgical removal, dermabrasion, and laser tattoo removal. However, laser tattoo removal is the most effective:
Surgical Removal
Surgical removal or excision tattoo removal is the only guaranteed way of removing your tattoo completely. It involves removing tattoos on the skin and completely stitching the skin. Because it usually results in a scar, it is typically applied to smaller tattoos. It is usually carried out in a plastic surgery office.
You would be given a local anesthetic to numb the tattooed area before the surgeon used a scalpel, a knife-like sharp device, to cut away the tattoo from the skin and suture back the remaining portion.
The number of hours needed for the surgery typically depends on the size of the tattoo. Your healing process will take several weeks following the surgery. Medications are prescribed to speed up recovery, heal the skin, and reduce infection risk.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a less popular option. The use and effectiveness vary from person to person due to its procedures. It involves the use of using a sanding device to remove the tattoo on the skin layers to allow ink to leach out.
It is usually done at a cosmetic surgeon’s office. A clinician will administer a local anesthetic to reduce the pain, and then use a high-speed rotating device to sand off the top layers of the skin to allow the ink in the tattoo to escape.
Dermabrasion cannot be an option if you have sensitive skin or a skin condition with eczema. It may lead to a high risk of experiencing bruising, bleeding, and changes in your skin colour. The recovery process takes about 2 to 3 weeks while the pinkness of the treated areas takes about 8 to 12 weeks to fade away.
Laser Tattoo Removal
The currently most effective tattoo procedure as described by experts is known as Laser Tattoo Removal. It penetrates the skin below the skin with a laser-focused beam of light that breaks up the ink in the tattoo into smaller pieces.
The body metabolizes the ink once it is small enough to enter the bloodstream, where it gradually disappears over time.
The majority of laser tattoo removal procedures require six to eight sessions, depending on the complexity, size, colour, skin tone, and complexion of the patient. Six to about two months would be required per meeting to permit the skin to recuperate from the secondary effects like redness, enlarging, or rankles.
It requires around nine months to a year to eliminate a tattoo. Longer sessions may be required for larger and more vibrant tattoos.
If you are thinking about removing your tattoo, Laser tattoo removal is the method that works best and is most suitable for all skin types.
Laser Tattoo Removal: Skin Rejuvenation and Carbon Peel
The Skin Rejuvenation and Carbon Peel, also known as the Hollywood Peel, is another service offered by Laser Tattoo Removal. It is capable of enhancing and refreshing your skin’s appearance.
It’s okay to want to look and feel younger as you get older, without the wrinkles, acne, age spots, or sun damage that come with age.
The Hollywood peel is a revolutionary, painless laser treatment that removes acne, wrinkles, pigmentation, oily skin, sun damage, and age spots. It leaves your skin smoother, plumper, and more refreshed. It is suitable for all sexes and skin types.
The treatment is great for shrinking pores, getting rid of too much oil, and acne scars, and helping pigment. This approach causes less pain. The laser effectively exfoliates the skin, cuts through dead skin cells, blackheads, and targets carbon. The laser targets and destroys the carbon particles, removing all of the absorbing materials.
If you want the treatment for rejuvenating your skin, the carbon laser Hollywood peel is more than capable of doing so.
However, it does not leave cutting out the deep layers of the skin to enable collagen production. This in turn reduces fine lines, and wrinkles producing firmer and plumper skin leaving skin tighter and glowing. This is because carbon can absorb oil, even excessively.
3 Types of Laser Tattoo Removal
There are about three common types of laser tattoo removal, each with its own set of benefits and disadvantages.
Q-switched ruby laser (694 nm).
Q-switched ruby lasers are capable and used by surgeons to remove a wide range of pigments spectrum including the most prevalent colours in tattoos. The lasers are used to remove black, green, and blue pigments from the skin and are subsurface but not particularly effective against blue dye. This type of laser tattoo removal can also have negative effects on the skin, such as scarring, changes in pigmentation, and surface texture changes.
Q-switched 532 nm Nd: YAG laser (532 nm, 1064 nm)
These can also be referred to as ND YAG lasers. The 532 nm variety can get rid of bright pigments like yellow, orange, and red. whereas YAG 1064 nm can get rid of blue and black. The Nd: YAG laser exhibits significantly fewer changes in texture and pigmentation than the Q-switched ruby lasers.
Q-switched alexandrite laser (755 nm).
Q-switched alexandrite laser (755 nm) is recognized by surgeons as the best laser for removing green pigments. Like the ruby laser, is designed to remove blue and black pigment. Approximately 12% of patients treated with this laser will experience transient hyperpigmentation.
CONCLUSION
Irrespective of the type of tattoo you wish to remove or the method you would like to adopt, it is important to find a qualified specialist who would take you through the process for both safety and effectiveness. Finding an expert in the field or a surgeon would save you a lot of stress and worry. They would guide you toward the best option for your situation.
The cost, efficiency, and recovery time of various laser tattoo removal methods vary, and knowing your options will help you make a consistent decision that works for you and your budget.